Grands Motets

Mondonville achieved the apotheosis of the Grand Motet à la Française: the fruit of Lalande's rhetorical heritage and Rameau's operatic style, in which he developed a sacred work symbolic of the Enlightenment. His great musical frescoes, animated by a sumptuous counterpoint that transfigures the sound of the choir, require unprecedented virtuosity to touch the sublime. A true star of the Concert Spirituel, Mondonville became it's most frequently played composer, all the while serving the Chapelle Royale: audiences flocked to enjoy this "rocaille" style music, the sacred expression of Louis XV's reign. Gaétan Jarry offers us the three most splendid jewels.